During the recent cold and snowy nights, I was awakened by the sounds of snapping tree limbs falling in the forest down the street. Some of the trees are old and brittle there. I imagined the birds waking up, too, jolted from their feathery dreams to find a new limb in the cold night air.
Birds have many ways to keep warm in cold temperatures. The main way that birds survive cold or freezing temperatures is by trapping air pockets around their bodies. They fluff up their feathers to give them an airy insulation. Some birds will waterproof their feathers with oil from a gland near their tail. Herons grow special feathers to use for waterproofing.
Birds will also crowd into shrubs and vines, sharing body heat.
Food provides the necessary energy to keep birds warm, and they will seek out the usual sources. Many of the birds of Inwood depend on seeds and hidden insects. I’ve seen them gather at the base of trees to forage, and I often see them eating sunflower seeds or other seeds provided by human visitors to the park.
The woodpeckers are good at staying warm all winter, flying into existing tree cavities and by eating insect larvae. They will bore new holes on rotting trees and make new cavities for overnight camping.
Birds will also tuck in their feet and bill to keep warm. Some species will go through torpor, something like hibernation, when they will shut their bodies down for a time.
Many people will seek out similar techniques to stay warm, especially wearing a layer for insulation. A so-called puffer jacket usually does the trick, as it is often made with duck or goose down.
Cover: Male Northern Cardinal in the Clove, Inwood Hill Park. January 22, 2024. 11:27 a.m.
Recent posts
- An Evening Walk with a Great Egret, and Spring Migration Report
On an early evening walk on May 11, I came across a Great Egret foraging near high tide at the Salt Marsh in Inwood Hill Park. I usually take my walks in the early morning, and the egret usually forages near times of low tide, so this was new for both of us. The Great… Read more: An Evening Walk with a Great Egret, and Spring Migration Report - Birds on the Forest Floor: Ovenbird and Veery
During spring migration season in an old-growth forest like Inwood Hill Park, be sure to look for birds wandering along the park paths or in the dense foliage near the ground. While we are often straining our necks looking for warblers and other small songbirds in the high canopy, some warblers like the Ovenbird or… Read more: Birds on the Forest Floor: Ovenbird and Veery - A Flurry of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flickers Flickering, and a Great Egret Returns
Today, April 22, 2026, is Earth Day, a time to learn more about and advocate for the health of our home planet. The birds depend on us. A great thing about being out in nature in the morning is that a memorable morning with birds can last all day. Whatever I’m doing, whatever happens during… Read more: A Flurry of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flickers Flickering, and a Great Egret Returns - The Kinglets of the Forest, with More Stories and Tech-Related Mishaps in the Age of Digital Birding
So tiny and fast. They were kinglets, and I saw both kinds this week in the forested areas of Inwood Hill Park. Kinglets are either golden-crowned or ruby-crowned, fast-moving, and constantly in search of insects. They may be distinguished by the color of their crowns and the coloring around the eyes. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet features… Read more: The Kinglets of the Forest, with More Stories and Tech-Related Mishaps in the Age of Digital Birding - Northern Mockingbird – The Bossiest Singer in the Park
Northern Mockingbirds are famous for their expressive and varied songs, often mimicking other birds. All this month, whenever I have had occasion to walk in Inwood Hill Park or Sherman Creek Park, I’ve come across a loud mockingbird singing its heart out.
Birds of Inwood 
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